Graveside services for Alma Inez Burt Thornhill are Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Easthaven Cemetery. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Thornhill died on May 16, 2016, in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was born May 1, 1925, in Brookhaven to Effie McLaughlin and Thomas Decater Burt.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, J H Thornhill Jr; her brothers, Hoover (Mildred) Burt and Julius (Myrtle) Burt; and sister Opal Burt.

Survivors are her children, Judy (Phil) Barnette of Knoxville Tennesse, Kenny Thornhill and Rhonda (Cliff) Myers of Cary North Carolina; four grandsons, Chris (Paula) Myers and their daughter Sydnee Beauchamps of Cary, North Carolina, Michael Barnette of Oakland California, Keller Barnette of Knoxville, Paul (Evelyn-Anne) Barnette of Knoxville; her brother Roffie (Joyce) Burt; sisters, Agnes Williams, Barbara McCracken, Hilda (Bill) Penner, Sandra Ratcliff; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Inez was valedictorian of her senior class at Auburn High School and graduated from Co-Lin Jr. College. Widowed at a young age with three children, she went to the University of Southern Mississippi and earned her masters degree. She taught typing and business at Topeka Tilton High School and Co-Lin Jr. College, worked for Dickerson Bowen and as Secretary to the Lincoln County Agricultural Extension agent.

In the early 1960s, women could not borrow money on their own, so she physically built her own house with a little store credit here and there and with the help of her large family. It took many years, but she and her children lived in it from the time it was in the dry. She never owed a mortgage and the house is still standing. She was one tough lady.

After retirement, she enjoyed traveling with groups organized by local banks and her church to see this great country and Europe. In her late 80s, she took an apartment at the charming Inez Hotel where most everything she needed was within walking distance. When she was 90 years old, she moved to an assisted-living residence in Knoxville, Tennessee.